What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2019-07-27 involved a aircraft, registration TF-CRZ, at IS.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the pilot failing to verify that the flight controls were free and unobstructed during preflight, specifically failing to notice that the control column had been secured with a seatbelt as a makeshift gust lock, which prevented necessary control inputs during takeoff and led to a stall.

Fatal Stall Accident Involving Homemade Piper PA-12 Replica

A highly experienced commercial pilot was killed when a homemade aircraft experienced a sudden stall and spin shortly after takeoff during an aviation festival in Iceland.

What happened

On July 27, 2019, during an aviation festival at Haukadalsmelur airfield in Rangárvöllur, a Piper PA-12 Replica (registration TF-CRZ) crashed shortly after takeoff. The aircraft, which was part of a group of three planes participating in the event, was being flown by a pilot intending to practice landings for an upcoming competition.

During the takeoff roll on the southeast-running runway, witnesses observed the left wing lift slightly, causing the aircraft to veer to the right. The aircraft managed to become airborne but immediately entered a very steep climb. The engine power appeared to be high, but the aircraft's angle of attack continued to increase until it appeared to be flying solely on engine power (mushing). Subsequently, power was lost, and the aircraft fell onto its right wing, entered a spin, and crashed near the airfield. The pilot, a highly experienced commercial pilot with over 15,000 total flight hours, sustained fatal injuries.

The investigation

The RNSA examined the aircraft, the engine, and the pilot's recent flight history. The Titan X360 engine was disassembled and inspected; investigators found no mechanical failures, noting that the engine was functioning normally and that the propeller damage indicated power was reduced before impact.

Investigators also examined the aircraft's control systems. It was discovered that the rear control column had been secured to the rear seat using a seatbelt to act as a makeshift gust lock, a common practice among the aircraft's owners to protect control surfaces from wind damage. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's preflight procedures and the aircraft's maintenance logs, which showed the aircraft had undergone an annual inspection only ten hours prior to the accident.

Findings

The pilot did not sufficiently perform a preflight inspection to ensure that the flight controls were free and correct.
The use of a seatbelt to secure the control column prevented the pilot from being able to move the interconnected front control column.
The aircraft experienced a stall due to an excessive angle of attack during the steep climb.
The pilot's recent experience in this specific Piper PA-12 Replica was very low, with only 14 hours of flight time in the type.
The engine was found to be in good working order with no mechanical defects contributing to the accident.